2010

The NASA Authorization Act of 2010: 99 page law regarding outer space

The US Space Policy:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/national_space_policy_6-28-10.pdf

White House Policy Documents:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ostp

Especailly see:

Recent happenings and decisions in 2010 regarding outer space, including the retirement of NASA's Shuttle fleet and the cancellation of the NASA Constellation Program, can be understood by reviewing the US Plans for SpaceFlight Committee Report of 2009 and various websites which interpret decisions made by this committee. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Review_of_United_States_Human_Space_Flight_Plans_Committee

Here is a segment of text from this site:

The Committee has concluded that, "the ultimate goal of human exploration is to chart a path for human expansion into the solar system." It also observed that "destinations should derive from goals," and "human spaceflight objectives should broadly align with key national objectives." Destinations beyond low Earth orbit that were considered by the Committee include the Moon, Mars, and near-Earth objects as well as the moons of Mars, Phobos and Deimos. Among these, the Committee felt that "Mars stands prominently above all other opportunities for exploration" because "if humans are ever to live for long periods on another planetary surface, it is likely to be on Mars."

The Committee did not explain why it thought that human expansion into the solar system must involve a planetary surface. Others have proposed, for example, building free-floating space habitats and colonization of the asteroids. The Committee's final report does mention the possibility of evaluating near-Earth objects for "their utility as sites for mining of in-situ resources."

Here is another informative segment of text from the above rerferenced website:

Some of these resources are available on Mars, and perhaps on the Moon, but the Committee report noted the cost and difficulty of "travel into the deep gravity wells of the lunar and Martian surface." It did not emphasize options such as asteroid mining (other than the one mention noted above) or space-based solar power that could involve the private sector and the development of new space-based industries, and meet key national objectives such as energy independence and reducing climate change. The Committee report did favor strengthening the private space launch industry, and increased international collaboration.

In its final report, the Committee proposed three basic options for exploration beyond low Earth orbit, and appeared to favor the third option:

Mars First, with a Mars landing, perhaps after a brief test of equipment and procedures on the Moon.
Moon First, with lunar surface exploration focused on developing the capability to explore Mars.
A Flexible Path to inner solar system locations, such as lunar orbit, Lagrange points, near-Earth objects and the moons of Mars, followed by exploration of the lunar surface and/or Martian surface.

This provides us with a good indication of the direction and plans for the next steps towards outer space development.

This site also links us directly to various official reports, official websites and other documents. Someone knowledgeable about this policy must have published this information.

President’s Space Policy 2010

http://www.space-travel.com/reports/US_President_Obama_National_Space_Policy_New_Analysis_Available_999.html

President’s Commission on Moon, Mars and Beyond 2004 and Vision for Space Exploration

http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/moontomars/index.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vision_for_Space_Exploration

http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/55583main_vision_space_exploration2.pdf

US Plans for SpaceFlight Committee 2009

http://www.nasa.gov/offices/hsf/meetings/10_22_pressconference.html

Small Bodies Assessment Group 2009

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/sbag/

NASA's Constellation Program (cancelled), yet the activities included in this program are likely to be taken on by other key actors, instead of NASA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constellation_program